Similar to business analytics, legal analytics in California uses aggregate data to help attorneys know the unknowable.
For many years, lawyers would use only the law to best represent their client and win their case. Today successful litigators use legal analytics in California to give them an edge in the courtroom.
What is Legal Analytics?
Legal analytics involves mining data about courtrooms, from the clerk of courts, dockets, and any other information related to the courts. The data is then compiled into reports. These reports provide valuable information for litigators to learn how a court conducts business.
How Legal Analytics Is Used
Lawyers are competitive by nature. Legal Analytics allows lawyers to gain an advantage by using comprehensive data that was previously not available. This advantage can help their win their cases and gain new clients.
By looking at the data, a lawyer can determine if a judge can be persuaded to grant a transfer of venue, they can spot new trends; they can predict how long a case will be in trial and can predict how a judge will react to new trial strategies.
Successful lawyers use legal analytics in some ways, even if they do not know it. A lawyer may think, “this judge does not like change of venues.” That is a data point for legal analytics. Another lawyer may think, “this judge never approves a motion to postpone unless someone is deathly ill.” That too is a data point. Someone else may observe, “the courtroom is located in an old building that does not have a power connection close by to show the video to the jury. I have to run an extension cord and bring a screen.” That data would be nice to know before you pack all your equipment and haul it to the courtroom.
Legal analytics is an important element for all litigators and should be used with all court cases.
